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About The Vehicles

A Kimberley Tour requires strong 4WD vehicles. We have a fleet of modern purpose built 4WD coaches, built for the rugged conditions of the Kimberley. All guest seats are forward facing with individual air-conditioning vents to each seat. All seats have seat belts to ensure your maximum safety. Vehicles have extra-large windows for vision and photography, fire extinguishers, satellite telephones, first aid kits, and charging for devices and many safety features. We are one of the few companies that carry a defibrillator. Depending on which bus is used the maximum group size varies from 15 – 18 guests.

Charging Devices

Our coaches are fitted with multiple charging points so you can charge your camera, ipods, and small devices while we tour.

How Much Hiking Will I Need To Do?

Your Kimberley Tour involves walking most days to experience and get to highlights. Walks vary in length. You need to be fit enough to walk a few kilometres on a regular basis. We walk over rocks and rough paths that are often uneven. Some walks on your Kimberley Tour will only be 10 minutes each way. A longer walks may be over an hour each way with a stop for a swim and a snack in the middle. If you are doing the a Kimberley Tour to Mitchell Falls (eg the Outback Kimberley Tour) it is wise to take the helicopter in at least one direction. In 2017 this is included in the price.

Are There Additional Charges?

With the exception of two meals, there is no need to open your wallet during your Kimberley tour at all. We include all your camping and national park fees, passes and permits, meals and morning tea (as indicated), some soft drinks, some extra snacks and a free Giekie Gorge Cruise. If you choose to do some of the extra activities available you may incur costs payable to local providers. This could include optional activities such as scenic flights, helicopter rides, other cruises, meals in restaurants or homesteads etc, alcohol and extra drinks.

For example a 18 minute helicopter flight at Mitchell Falls or the Bungles shared by 4 people is approx. $270pp (they will sometimes charge more if there are less people in the helicopter). A six minute flight from the top of the Mitchell Falls back to where we started walking, which includes flying over the Mitchell Falls is approx. $150pp (this is the flight we include one way for free on our 16 Day Adventurer and 15 Day Outback Kimberley Tours in 2018 & 2019).

There are options for purchasing some meals at resort restaurants and at stations (at guests expense). We encourage guests to have two meals together in a restaurant (e.g. at Station along the Gibb River Road and Lake Argyle. Allow $30 – $40).

What Are The Tents Like?

We use spacious well ventilated tents designed for four – but we only sleep two people in them (or one if you are a single – no single supplement). They are very easily erected. Lay back and watch the stars all night. We will show you how it is done and we will always be available to assist if needed.

Am I Going To be Comfortable When I Sleep?

We seek to provide you with comfortable camping sleeping options. To create a quick and comfortable camping bed we use high quality 70mm thick camping mattresses and provide pillows (limited camp stretchers are also available if required – reserved for people with mobility issues). Please bring your own sleeping bag or you may purchase a new zero rated sleeping bag from us at a cost of $50.

Our tents have a fully enclosed layer with mosquito mesh so when you choose to sleep without the fly you can enjoy sleeping under the stars without worrying about mosquitos.

On a camping tour the sleeping in tents is an important part the overall experience! It’s great fun!

What Should I Expect The Weather To Be Like?

We only tour in the dry season. The Kimberley’s climate is characterised by distinct wet and dry seasons. Officially the Wet begins on the 1 October and ends on the 30 April, but in reality 80% of the rain occurs between mid-December and mid-March. There is virtually no rain in the dry season from April to October. The daily forecasts are for warm sunny days and cool nights with low humidity. Temperatures range from 26–31°C during the day and about 12-16°C at night. You can expect most days on your Kimberley Tour to be fine and ideal for hikes and swimming. During the day you are likely to be in shorts and tee-shirts. At night it can get pretty cold particularly around July. Bring warm clothes for around the fire.

Can We Swim In The Gorges – Are There Crocodiles?

Many people ask this question. On your Kimberley Safari Tour there are daily opportunities for swimming along the Gibb River Road, Cape Leveque, Mitchell Falls etc. It is a highlight on a Kimberley Tour to be swimming in crystal clear water, hot water springs and standing underneath cascading waterfalls. We only allow guests to swim where there is no danger.

What Should I Pack?

Please remember that we are camping and have limited ability to carry excess gear. Please pack to a minimum in a small soft bag which is no heavier than 15kg. You can take a small day pack to carry food, water and a camera when hiking into a gorge during the day. We will supply a suggested guide of what to pack in your guest information booklet.

The following is a suggestion of what to take:

Hat and sunscreen and sunglasses (you might want a fly net to hang over your hat)

Water bottles to carry when hiking

Comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers (worn-in) or all terrain sandals (we call them off road sandals)

Head torch (particularly useful in Tunnel Creek Gorge and when finding the toilet at night)

Camera

Personal first aid – bandaids and Panadol, Ventolin

Socks and jocks

Casual clothing – t-shirts and shorts for the day. Evening will require long pants and a warm top, beanie and gloves

Board shorts or bathers (swimming in gorges)

Towel

Thongs (flip flops) for giving your feet a break from the sweaty socks

Toiletries and DEET based insect repellent (antihistamine tablet or creams for any bites/stings)

Small day pack to hike into gorges

Sheet and pillow case

REMEMBER PACK LIGHT!

Can My Dietary Needs Be Considered?

Be prepared for some delicious cuisine. Our staff are well experienced in camp cooking. From roasts to stir-frys, casseroles and desserts. We cook on BBQ plates, in the camp oven, on gas rings and cooking over the fire. Enjoy damper and fire apple pies. We love to experiment.

Guests eat breakfast prior to day one departure date and provide their own dinner on the last day. All camping meals are provided on tour (also options to purchase meals at resort restaurants, stations etc):

Breakfast – cereals, toast and fruit juice, tea and coffee

Morning tea – fruit, biscuits or cake

Lunch – wraps, sandwiches, crackers, salad and cold meat

Dinner – Variety of meals dependent on who is on the tour and any dietary restrictions. We are very flexible with our meals and can adjust the menu to suit. Please let us know if you have any special needs. Otherwise our meals will be to suit the general omnivore.

There will be road houses along the way if you want to stock up on some of your own personal snacks (e.g. for the chocoholics).

Do You Serve Alcohol?

Alcohol is not provided by Kimberley Safari Tours. You are welcome to bring your own, but please limit the quantity as space is limited. Many aboriginal communities are ‘Dry Communities’ or have alcohol restrictions. Purchase your supplies in Broome and we can replenish your drinks again in Kununurra. We’ll keep them cold for you.

What Is Expected Of Me At The Camp Site?

Part of the camping experience is helping with setting up the camp and packing up the camp. On your Kimberley Safari Tour everyone helps and you get to enjoy the slow pace of life with its simple pleasures. Staff cook the meals but everyone helps at meal times with the tasks at hand. You might enjoy making the damper in the hot coals, or helping to start the evening fire.

Responsible Camping

This is a common sense checklist to keep our impact on the environment at a minimum:

firewood collected only in designated areas.

living trees respected (by not breaking limbs off)

fires lit only in designated fireplaces

Rubbish only deposited in bins or at approved collection points

wildlife not fed as it not only is harmful to the animals but also promotes aggressive behaviour towards campers

no pollution in the streams and waterholes (e.g. no shampoo or soap in rivers)